Detention of exiled Nicaraguan journalist in the US

Luis Manuel Chavarría Galeano, an exiled Nicaraguan journalist and director of the program ‘Café con Voz’, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Orlando, Florida, on September 14, 2026. Galeano, who fled Nicaragua in 2018 following political persecution, was working as a rideshare driver at the time of his arrest.

In February 2023, the Nicaraguan government stripped Galeano of his nationality and labeled him a ‘traitor to the fatherland.’ Following his detention, U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar urged authorities to prevent his deportation, citing extreme danger to his life if returned to Nicaragua. Reporteros Sin Fronteras (RSF) Spain has also called upon the Spanish government to intervene, noting that Galeano holds Spanish citizenship, and has requested consular assistance from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Spanish Consulate General in Miami.

On September 23, U.S. authorities granted bail to Galeano following his detention for immigration violations after his initial period of stay expired. While the Department of Homeland Security is pursuing deportation proceedings, Galeano has a pending political asylum request filed in 2019. His legal team and family indicated he might be released shortly, though the bail amount remains undisclosed. His immigration court hearing is scheduled for October 2 to determine his legal status.